Visit with exotic animals is environmental lesson for Carnegie Elementary students
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Trainer Amber Fandrich of Gretna, Neb., and with Wildlife Encounters, grimices as Ice, the green iguana, climbs on her head during an assembly for the Carnegie Elementary School in Carnegie. -
Pickles, a golden and blue macaw, has a snack during the "Wonders of the Rainforest" assembly for the Carnegie Elementary School in Carnegie.
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Students were attentive and enthusiastic at an assembly Friday in Carnegie Elementary School.
After all, what kid wouldn't be thrilled to take a break from the books, especially to attend an assembly with real, live animals, up close and personal.
Animal guests, natives of rainforests around the world, included a snake, tarantula, iguana, macaw and a baby lemur. Nearly 400 students in kindergarten through sixth grade attended.
"The students loved it," said principal Carla Hudson, but the intent of the assembly was serious. "It was about preserving the rainforests of the world."
The assembly, Wonders of the Rainforest Assembly, was sponsored by Carnegie Elementary PTA.
It was presented by Wildlife Encounters, a nonprofit organization that visits schools with educational programs for students and other groups, promoting awareness and enthusiasm for wildlife conservation.
Students learned about the survival instincts and behavior of animals, the geography and natural history of the area where they live and conservation education.
Wildlife Encounters works with Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, and programs have aired on Animal Planet.
The 45-minute assembly included letting students "get very close to the animals, but they could not touch the animals," the principal said.
The PTA sponsors assemblies about every nine weeks. The next one, on April 4, will feature staff and animals from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
First Published February 16, 2012 5:02 am
